ADDRESS. 37 
a some works near Manchester where the dye had been for some time 
manufactured, that public attention was directed in England to the power- 
fully explosive nature of this substance itself, The French authorities 
appear, however, to have been at that time already engaged upon its 
_ application as an explosive for shells, It is now produced in very large 
quantities at several works in Great Britain, and it has been extensively 
exported during the last four years, evidently for other than the usual 
commercial purposes. Large supplies of phenol, or carbolic acid, have, at 
the same time, been purchased in England for France, and lately for 
Germany, doubtless for the manufacture of picric acid, very extensive 
works having been established for its production in both those countries. 
It has been made the subject of experiment by our military authorities, 
and its position has been well established as a thoroughly stable explosive 
agent, easily manufactured, comparatively safe to deal with, and very 
destructive when the conditions essential for its detonation are fulfilled. 
The precise nature of Mélinite appears to be still only known to the 
French authorities : it is asserted to be a mixture of picric acid with some 
material imparting to it greater power; but accounts of accidents which have 
occurred even quite recently in the handling of shells charged with that 
material appear to show that, in point of safety or stability, it is decidedly 
inferior to simple picric acid. Reliable as the latter is, in this respect, its 
employment is, however, not unattended with the difficulties and risks 
which have to be encountered in the use, in shells, of other especially 
violent explosives. Future experience in actual warfare can alone determine 
decisively the relative value of violent explosive agents, like picric acid 
or wet gun-cotton, and of the comparatively slow explosive, gunpowder, 
for use in shells; it is certain, however, that the latter still presents 
distinct advantages in some directions, and that there is no present pro- 
‘spect of its being more than very partially superseded as an explosive 
for shells. 
With regard to submarine mines and locomotive torpedoes, such as 
those marvels of ingenuity and constructive skill, the Whitehead and 
Brennan torpedoes, the important progress recently made in the prac- 
tical development of explosive agents has not resulted in the provision 
of a material which equals wet compressed gun-cotton in combining with 
great destructive power the all-important essential of safety to those 
who have to deal with these formidable weapons and to man the small 
vessels destined to perform the very hazardous service of attacking ships 
of war at short distances by means of locomotive torpedoes. 
Although the subject of the development of explosive force for purposes 
of war has of late received from workers in applied science, from seekers 
of patentable inventions, and even from the public generally, a somewhat 
_ predominating share of attention, considering that we congratulate our- 
selves upon the enjoyment of a period of profound peace, yet the produc- 
